Gasket cutting machine



Oct. 15, 1940. M TIESCH 2,218,186

GASK ET CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l r nvvzzvrofi MWR/K/ 77:35am

' AT'TO NE) Oct. 15, 1940. .M. TlESCH V GASKET CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1938 5 Sheets-She ej 2 /NVE/V7'0/? MA WR/K/T/EJCH. I 5/ Afro/F 5r rub 3 Shets-$heet 5 INVENT OE MA WR/K/ 77E5cH. r W /6'. AT EWEV Oct. 15, 1940. M TIESCH GASKET CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1938 Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES P T OFFICE Application June 6, 1938, Serial No. 212,214

- In Austria November 13, 1937 i Claims. (Cl. l44 '21) This invention relates to the production of gaskets for closure caps, particularly for use in sealing bottles. The method of production accordingto the invention consistsessentially in cutting the gasket, in the immediate vicinity of the place where tin is tobe united to the cap, from a continuous longitudinal body having a cross-section corresponding to the desired shape and sizeof the gasket disc, if necessary applying adhesive. thereto, and then uniting the gasket thus obtained to the cap, if desired or necessary with the application of heat. A particularly practical and favorable working cycle is obtained if the continuous longitudinal body of gasketmaterial is extruded intermittently from an orifice or mouthpiece, being advanced at each intermittent movement by the amount of the thickness of the gasket to be obtained, the protruded portion severed by means of a cutting implement adapted to carry out an appropriate operative movement for this purpose, the gasket brought by means of position for union with a conveying device into the cap, and the gasket pressed against and united with the cap by means of a piston or 'the like.

The invention also relates to a machine for carrying out the method outlined above. A form of-construction of this machine of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the lineIII-III of Fig. 1 7

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sections taken on the lines IV-IV, V-V, and VI-VI, respectively, of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, beneath a plate I pertaining to the framework of the machine there is journalled a shaft 2 which is driven by a motor not shown in the drawings, and on which there is secured a bevel gear wheel 3 meshing with-a bevel gear wheel 5 journalled in a bearing 4. The boss of the bevel gear wheel 5 is coupled with a disc 6 on which there is mounted a roller '1 (Figs. 1 and 2) adapted to-engage, on rotation of the bevel gear Wheel 5, in a slot 8 in a feed disc 9 thereby causing this disc to rotate 45. The feed disc is mounted on a shaft II) in the plate I, which shaft carries on its free end a disc II rotatable over a stationary plateIZ and having, uniformly distributed over its circumference, eightj recesses I3 for the reception of the gaskets. .The arrestment of the feed disc 9 in its feed-positions is effected in a conventional manis shown, by way mounted-"on the boss member latable about a through an angle of" ner, with the aid of means not shown inthe drawings, e. giby means of a pawl lever controlledby the driving mechanism. Above and slightly spaced from the disc" II there is secured, in a bearing bracket 14 attached to the framework of 5 the machine, a-length of tube I5 throughwhich the column of rodlike or'tubular gasket material I 6 (Fig.4), such as rubbencdrk, or the like is delivered, this column of material being prevented I from rotating by means of sharp-edged ribs I1 10 provided on the insideof the lower end portion of the tube I5. In front of the orifice'of the tube I5, which with the ribs I I forms a holder for'the column of material,-there is provided a nut I8 which is mounted on the tube I5, and which engages with the turns of its screw threading'in the envelope of the column of gasket material I6. Idly ro'- tatable on the sleeve I9 is a boss'20:which with teeth 2I meshes with a gear wheel 22 f Fi'gsjl and 2 0 2) which is keyed to a shaft 22' and which is set inrapid rotation by the driving motor or from, the shaft 2, through the intermediary of transmission gearing. In the boss member 20, parallel. to theaxis of rotation thereof; there is journalled a'rotary pin 23 (Fig. l) "which'carries"at one end an arm 24 with a roller 25 and at the; other end a knife 26 which may also be termed a. cutter or slicer 'adaptedto oscillate closely in front of the nut I8in a plane at right angles to the axis of 30 rotation thereof. On the sleeve I9 there is,slidably mounted a ring"21 which is taperedon'the outside and adapted, 'when shifted, to. press against the roller 25 on the arm 24 and move the latter outwards, with the carries out an oscillatory movement against the projectingend of the column I6, which, in the present instance is of hollow cylindrical shape, and in'revolving about the same, owing to being annular gasket 28. For the axial of the ring 21 holds the ring there is provided a fork 29 which 21 by means of pins 30, is osci lpin 3|. (Fig. 4) on the bearing bracket I 4, and coupled, by means of a tension rod 33 passed through an aperture 32 in the plate I, with a lever 35 pivoted about a pin 34, provided at its free end with a roller 36, and adapted to co-'- 1 act with acam 31 on the shaft 2. A spring attached to the boss member 20 and tea stud on the side of .the rotary pin 23 (spring 39in Fig. 1) re-' tains' theknife in its inoperative. position and presses the roller25 constantly against the conical outer surface of the ring 21. By means of a firmly mounted on a sleeve I9 15' result that the knife 21;"35

20, cuts on an feed movement. I

spring 48 (Fig. 4) the lever together with the roller 36 is drawn constantly against the cam 31. To the sleeve I9 there is secured a toothed wheel 4| meshing with a gear wheel 42 keyed to a shaft 43 which is journalled in the plate I and bearing bracket I4, and on which there are also mounted, fast and loosely respectively. a ratchet wheel 44 and an arm 45. The arm 45 carries a pawl 46 which engages with the ratchet wheel 44, and has a slot 41 (Fig. 3)'in which there engagesa roller 48 mounted on'a pin 5| which is adjustable in a slot 49 in a two-armed lever 58. The lever 50 is pivoted in the plate I about a pin 50', is stressed by a spring 52, and carries on its free end a roller 53 with which it is pressed against a cam surface 54 on a cam plate attached to the shaft 2. By adjustment of the pin 5| in the slot 49 the extent of the reciprocating movement of material I6 held fast against rotation, draws a correspondingly larger or smaller piece column out of the holder. I

Offset relatively to the nut I8 in the direction of movement of the, disc H (see arrow in Fig. 2) there is provided a container 56 for the reception of a liquid adhesive which is constantly heated up and kept thinly liquid bymeans of an electric resistance heating coil 51 (Fig. 6). At the bottom of this of the container 56 there are disposed nozzles are closedby stationary valve needles 5!! the -under the action of a spring 69.

58 for the escape of the adhesive.v These nozzles tapered ends 59' of which extend out of thenozzles 58 towards thedisc II, while their upper ends are guided'in aplate 56 which is rigidly connectedwith container 56. is mounted on a hollow pin 6| pertaining to the plate I and is adapted to be raised and lowered thereon by means of asleeve 60 (see Figs. '2 and 5). At the lower end of the pin 6| there is guided a'thrust pin 62 which rests upon a two-armed lever 63 pivoted at 64 on the plate I and furnished at its free end with a-roller 65 coacting with a cam 66 on the shaft 2. In the upper, tubularportion of the pin 6| there works a piston 6'I'the 'rod 68 of which rests upon the pin 62 The tension of the spring 69 is adjustable by means ofa grub screw III. II .which extends throughppposed slots I2 in the hollow pin 6| and engages in holes in the sleeve 60. In Fig. 5 sleeve 68 which -is-rigid1y connected with container 56 shown in uppermost position. Upon revolution of shaft 2. cam-..

66 causes lever 63 to' move counterclockwise whereby-pin 62 and thereby rod 68 and sleeve 68 and container 56 connectedthereto are lowered.

Upon further revolution of'shaft 2, roller 65 00-.

operates with the small portion of cam 66 and lever 63 moves clockwise back into the position shown in Figure 5. Pin 62 and plunger 61, 68 riding-thereon are thereby pushed upward and sleeve 60 which is connected withplunger 61, 68

by means of cross pin 'II together with container 56 which is rigidly connected with sleeve 60 is brought to its raised positidn. The slight difference between the force of spring 69 which spring urges sleeve 60 and the container downward against the action of springs I4 is overcome by The container 56 I To the piston. 61 is secured a cutter the weight of the right arm of lever 63 and of roller 65 which weight permanently assures contact of said roller and cam 66. In addition, a spring may be provided interconnecting the left arm of lever 63 and the plate I. When roller 65 rides on the small portion of cam member 66 and is in the position shown in Fig. 5 the container 56 is in the raised position the valve needles 59 are pressed against the nozzles 58 by springs I4 acting on and pressing plate 56' upward and resting on collars I3, to prevent the escape of adhesive during the rotary movement ing upon the plate I, a guide I5 (Fig. 1) for a piston I6 which at each position of rest of the disc |I is capable of passing through the recess I3 situated thereabove. The piston I6 is raised and lowered at each revolution 'of the shaft 2, by a cam I'I provided on this shaft, for which purpose .the piston rod. 18 is furnished at its end with a roller I9. The roller I8 is kept in contact with the cam 11 by means of a spring which bears on the onehand against the plate I and on the other hand against a collar 8I on the rod 18., Above the disc II there is mounted'a carrier 82 which is connected with the plate I, and adjoining thetransverse slot 83 in this carrier there isplaced the'orifice' of the feed conduit 84 for the closure caps 85 to befurnished with gaskets. A pin 86, which holds the caps 85 fast over the:piston I6 asthey-comefrom the con-' duit 84,.is raised and lowered in a conventional manner'by a control device which is not shown' in the drawings, for the purpose .of enabling the liberation of the finished cap and the arresting ofthenext cap to be effected after the'uniting of cap and gasket. The bringing up andtaking away. of the caps iseffected in the usual manner by means of a current of air. After'liberation'by' the pin, 86, the finished caps pass down n the shaft 2 be drivena's indicated by the a chute arrow in Fig. 1 the roller I, owing to the drive lowering of the pin 86, the last cap to become finished is liberated and the next cap held fast in front of the piston. At the same time the column of gasket material I6 is moved-on downwards through one feed interval amounting to r the thickness of the finished gasket. The forward feeding or advancing of the column of gasket material I6 is"iriitiated"by the cam plate 55 (Figs. 1 and '3) which, during the first'half revolution, by means of its cam surface 54, swings the roller 53'with its lever 58 against the action of the spring 52, and at the same time, by the engagement of the roller 48 on the pin 5| in the slot 41, imparts a rocking movement to the arm 45, so that' the'pawl 46, by engaging in'the ratchet" wheel 44; rotatesthis latter to an appropriate extent; This rotary movement is transmitted, through the'shaft 43, the gear wheels 42; 4|, and the sleeve Hi, to the nut I8 which draws the nonmeans'of the piston 16.

rotatable column l6 out of the holder by an amount'corresponding to the thickness of the finished gasket. .On the second half revolution of the shaft 2 there are effected, while the disc II is at a standstill, the severing of the extruded piece of the column of gasket material, the lowering of the adhesive container for the purpose of applying adhesive to the gasket situated therebeneath, and the uniting of cap and gasketby By means of the cam 31 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) the lever 35 is moved downwards against the force of the spring 40, and the pivoted fork 29 likewise drawn downwards by the action of the tension rod 33, so that the ring 21 moves the arm 24, through the intermediary of the roller 25 (Figs. 1' and 4), and the cutter 26 attached to the pin 23severs the protruding end of the column of gasket material from th'e'main body thereof. The severed gasket drops into the recess 13 in the disc ll situated beneath it; On

p the descent of the adhesive container,-which'is initiated by the cam 56, the'ends 59 of the valve needles 59 strike against the-gasket 28-situated therebeneath'and thus open the nozzles/58 against the force of the springs 14. By the'use of thrust pins 62 of'different lengths the clearance between the container and the disc ll may be varied, so that in this manner the extent of the opening of the nozzles 58 may be'regulated, in that by the use of a longer or shorter-pin 62 the container is set at a higher or lower level and the nozzles are consequently opened to-a'greater or less extent. The gasket 28 provided with adhesive and brought into position over the plunger 16 .by the intermittent rotary advancing movement of the disc I I is pushed by'this plunger into the cap 85' situated thereabove, which is effected by means of the cam 11 (Figfil) which lifts the plunger rod 18 against theforce of the spring 80. The described cycle of operations is repeated at the next revolution of the shaft 2.

The machine for the carrying out of the method according to the invention is not limited to the described constructional example, and is adapatablefor all kinds of closure caps, 1par'- ticularly for tearoff and crown-cork caps. In'- stead of applying adhesive to the gasketsit is also possible to-apply to them in a known manner apaper disc spread on both sides 'with heatsensitive adhesive, which is then united to the gasket and to the cap by the application of a heated plunger.- The intermittent advancing of the column "of gasket material towards the cutter may'also be effected with the aid of feed rollers. With the aid of the method according to the invention it is possible to use 'any material suitable for jointing, including for example rubber, thus obviating the difiicultiesthat have hitherto stood" in the way of using materials of this nature, and it is also possible to reducethe thick ness of the gaskets to such an extent that they are only just thick enough to equalize out un evennesses in the caps, which implies a consid erable saving of material asflcompared with the hitherto known gaskets fed to capping machines in the finished state in stacks. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the column of gasket material used is immaterial, so that it is perfectly possible, as in the described example, to feed in this material in the form of a hollow column,

and thus to eiiect an appreciable saving of mav terial. If desired, the column of gasket .material may be arranged to carryout a rotational movement in addition to" its forward feed movement, so that the cutter need merely carry out 'said pawl, intermitte an oscillating movement without'revolving about the axis of the column of material to be "cut through. l I claim:

1.'A machine for producing gaskets slicing same from rodlike or tubular workmaterial, said machine comprising apower driven shaft, material cutting means, a feed.rnechanisrn associated'with said cutting means and feeding the work material, from which the gaskets'aremade to saidcutting means, said feed mechanism comprising a hollow cylindricalmaterial holder'which surrounds the work material to be fed to said cutting means, a rotary 'work materialfeeder :adjacent to one endfo'f said holderand'having an internal thread which firmlyengagesthe material axi'allyemergingffrom said holder, a1 cylindrical extensiorijconnected with said feeder and surrounding said holder, a drive shaft operatively connected with said extension'for rotating said extension and ,feeder, connecting means operativ'ely, connecting" said power driven shaft andsaid drive shaft; said connecting means comprising airatchetwheelwhich is, connected with said drive shaft, .a .twojarm lever,.a ratchet pawl which isslidingly mo'vablyand' directly connected to one arm of said lever, and a cam member 'conne'ctedwith said power driven shaft and movably engaging. the other arm of said lever, for swinging said lever and thereby, by meansof said pawl, intermittently driving said ratchet" wheeland ,f:drive1 shaft.

2. A machine for. producing' gaskets by slicing same from rodlikelor tubular workmaterial, said machine comprising a power driven shaft; material cutting ineans, a'feed mechanismjass'oelated with said cutting means and feeding the work material from'which the gasketsfare made to said cutting means saidfeed mechanism. comprising a hollow cylindricalmaterial holder which surrounds the work material-to be fed to said machine, a rotary work. material feeder adjacent to one end of said holder and having an internal threadwhi'ch firmlyengages thematerial emerg ing from said holder, a cylindrical extension con: nected -with said feederjia'ndsurrounding said holder, a drive shaft operatively connected with saidextension for"rot ating jsaid extensionv and feeder, connecting" means operatively connecting said powerdriven shaftv and said drive'shaft, said connecting",meanscornprising. a ratchet wheel which is connected with said drive shaft, a'two arm lever having a slotted arm, a ratchet pawl, 1 afslotted arm swingably'fcorinected with. said drive shaft and swing'ablyj' holding said pawlfa eonnecting member rigidly yet adjustably connected with one of said slotted arms and movably engagingthe'other vslotted arm, whereby, by ad justment' of the e [of said connecting;

member in one of said arms,'the active length of said lever can be changed, and a cam.member connected withsaid powerdriven shaft and mov- 7 ably engaging the-other arm of said lever for j swinging said lever and thereby, .by means of wheelland drive shaft. I

3. A machine for producing gaskets bysIicing same from rodlike or tubular work -material, said machine comprising a power driven ,shaft having a cam' member, slicing means, a feed nitly driving said ratchet mechanism for feeding thework material from which the gaskets are made to said slicing means,

said feed mechanism comprising a-hollow cylindrical holder which surrounds the work mate rial to be fed to, said machine, a rotary work maierial'ffeeder disposed coaxially with and adjacent to one end of said holder and having an internal thread which firmly engages the material axially emerging from said holder, a cylindrical extension connected with said-feeder and surrounding said holder, a drive shaft operatively connected with said extension for rotating said extension and feeder, connecting means operatively connecting said cam member and said drive shaft. another cam member on said power driven shaft, and a connecting mechanism operatively interconnecting said slicing means and said other cam member for alternate synchronized operation of said slicing'means and said feeder. I

4. A machine for producing gaskets by slicing same from rodlike or tubular work material, said machine comprising a power driven shaft, material cutting means, afeed' mechanism associated with said cutting means and feeding the work material from which the gaskets aremade to said cutting means, said feed mechanism comprising a hollow cylindrical holder which surrounds the work material to be fed to said machine, a rotary work material feeder disposed coaxially with and adjacent to one end of said holder and having an internal thread which firmly engages the material emerging from said holder, a cylindrical extension connected with said feeder and surrounding said holder, a drive shaft operjatively connected with said extension for rotating said extension and feeder, connecting means operatively connecting said power driven shaft and said drive shaft, a cutter holder rotatablyisurrounding said extension and swingably holding said cutter, an operating member axially, displaceable on said extension and being adapted to engage and swing said cutting means into work mate'rial engaging position upon axial displagment of said operating member, and i a f jcQ "Ie'cting mechanism interconnecting said operatiifgmember and said power shaft for synchronized operation of said cutting means and said feeder.

5. A machine for producing gaskets by slicing same from rodlike or tubular work material, said machine comprisinga power driven shaft, material jcutting means, a feed mechanism associated with said cuttingmeans and feeding the work material from which thejgaskets are made to said cutting means, said feed mechanism com: prising a hollow cylindrical holder which surrounds the work material to be fed to said machine, a work material feeder adjacentto one end of said holder and having an internal thread which firmly engages the material axially emerging from said holder, a cylindrical extension conheated with said feeder andsurrounding said holder, a drive shaft operatively connected with said extension for rotating said extension and feeder, connecting means operatively connecting said power shaft and said drive shaft, said cuttingmeans comprising a cutter, a cutter stem rigidly connected with said cutter, a stem holder rotatably holding said stem and surrounding said extension, a crank lever on said stem, an operating member axially displaceableon said extension and abuttingly engaging said crank lever and rot-ating said stem and swinging said cutter into work material en'gagingposition upon axial displacement of said operating member, and a connectingmechanism interconnecting said operating member and said power shaft for synchronized operation of said cutter and said feeder.

6. A machine for producing gaskets by slicing same from rodlike or tubular work material, said machine including a source of power, a continuously rotated material cutter,'afeedmechanism for feeding the work material from which the gaskets are made to said cutter, said feed mechanism comprising ,a material holder, a material feeder adjacent vto said holder and frictionally engaging the work material, said cutter being disposed adjacentto and coaxially with said feeder and rotating continuously about the work material axially emerging from said feeder and being adapted to be temporarily moved into cutting engagement with said work material, intermittently acting driving means connected with said feeder, with said cutter and with said source of power and being periodically actuated by said source of power for periodically actuating said feeder and feeding a length of material to said cutter and moving said cutter into cutting engagement with .said material; I I a f7.,A device for producing gaskets by slicing same from rodlike or tubular work material, said device comprising a work material holder through I which the work material enters said device, rotation preventing means associated with said holder and preventing rotation of the work material, a

work material feeder having an internal-thread material slicing means disposed-adjacent to said feederand being swingable about an axis parallel to the axis of said threadand continuously rotating about said thread and the work material emerging therefrom, temporarily actingswinging means associated with said slicing means and temporarily swinging said slicing means towards the axisof asid thread and into cutting engagement with the work material, said slicing means, when engaging the work material, slicing off the part of the work material projecting from said feeder in a combined circular and radial slicing operation. 1 a

8. A machine for producing gaskets by cutting same from rodlike or tubularwork material, said machine including, in combination, a source of power, a rotatable material cutter operatively connected with said source and being continuously rotated thereby a feedmechanism operatively connected with said cutter. and beingdisposed coaxially with said cutter and feeding the work material to said cutter, said feed mechanism comprising a material holder having rotation preventing means slidingly engaging the work material and preventing rotation thereof and a rotatable material feeder adjacent to said holder and surrounding and slidingly engaging and rotating about the same axis as said cutter and about the work material, and intermittently acting rotating means connected with said feedermachine comprising a power driven 'shaft, mate-I rial cutting means, a feed mechanism associated with said cutting means and feeding the work material from which the gaskets are made to said cutting means, said feed mechanism comprising a hollow cylindrical material holder surrounding the work material to be fed to said machine, a.

work material feeder disposed adjacent to one end of and coaxially with said holder and having an internal thread firmly engaging the material axially emerging from said holder, a cylindrical extension connected with said feeder and sur- 

